BasketballBuzz

Anthony Batchelor: The journey man

Anthony Batchelor: The journey man

Nothing has ever been easy for Anthony Batchelor. He credits God and his mother for his ongoing success in life and on the basketball court. Batchelor, a native of Scarborough Ontario has developed into
a superstar guard as a member of the Durham College men’s basketball program. The 19-year old superstar has seen his basketball journey take him through Philadelphia and Seattle before landing at Durham College, which is located in Oshawa Ontario.

“As a kid I moved around a lot,” said Batchelor. While moving was tough, he knew it was for the best. “Mom is always thinking of me in everything she does, and I love her for that,” he said. When he was 10, he and his mother moved to Seattle. That lasted three years, and then it was off to Philadelphia for a year, then back to Seattle. While most would view it as a negative, Batchelor always found a way to pull some-thing positive out of the experience.

“As I was getting older I started to realize that moving around was a hassle, but also a learning point. In every new city I go to there’s always something new that I can pick up and add to my game,” said Batchelor. His experiences in Philadelphia and Seattle have allowed him to develop into an all-star in his first year at Durham. “In Philly they don’t pass you the ball, so you have to work on your defense so you can get the rock, whereas, in Seattle, the game is pure scorers so you try and compete with that.”

The 6-2, 177-pound guard is averaging a solid 19.3 PPG which is good for fourth in the OCAA and is shooting 89% from the charity stripe. In addition, the man his teammates call ‘Seattle’ leads the Lords in steals, minutes per game, and sits second in rebounds and assists. Not bad for a freshman. “Seattle does everything at both ends of the court,” Coach Peter Gordon raved. His outstanding play has helped lead the Lords to an 8-4 conference record, putting them in great position to capture a playoff spot. Durham plays host to the provincial championships this season, so there is a little added incentive.

Sky is the limit when it comes to his potential on the court. “Anthony is one of the most exciting and intelligent players to have played at Durham College,” said Coach Peter Gordon. “He is by far our best player and one of the top players in the OCAA,” he added. Anthony’s versatility and work ethic have earned him respect amongst his teammates. “He is one of the best players I have ever played alongside,” said Lords guard Jason Nepomuceno. “He is so talented and works really hard, so it makes our jobs a lot easier,” added Matt Markovic, a second year forward with the Lords,

Batchelor will stop at nothing to improve his game. “Much more is needed for me to be a complete player,” he said. “I am prepared to do whatever it takes to bring my game to the next level. He was the lone representative from the Lords to play in the OCAA All-star game on January 22, where he gave the rest of the province a chance to see what he brings to the court. Despite his success on the court, Batchelor does not let his ego dictate who he is as a person. “His ego isn’t inflated with all of the success he has achieved from basketball which makes him one of the few personable people around,” Markovic explained. When comparing the 6-2 guard against current NBA players, he sees himself as a Tracy McGrady type player. “T-Mac is aggressive, he is more of a slasher then a shooter, and that’s exactly how my game is,” explained Batchelor.

Lords fan can only hope he develops into such a player, and judging by the stats, and the glowing words from his teammates, Batchelor is well on his way to making a name for himself.

OCAA announces year end basketball awards

JOVAIN WILSON NAMED OCAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jovain Wilson, a driven and dedicated third year guard for the Fleming Knights, has been named the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Year at the Belairdirect OCAA Basketball Championship banquet in London.

Leading his Peterborough based team to a 15-5 record to finish fourth in the East Division, the Pickering, Ontario native also led the division in scoring with a 22.93 points per game average and finished second overall in league scoring. Not only known for his scoring prowess, Wilson is also a tenacious defender, leader and sportsman and his excellent all-around play earned him a spot as a First Team All-star. Jovain also garnered his first nod as an All-Canadian and will now travel to Calgary where he will be one of the finalist for the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) National Player of the Year award.

“His competitiveness has been second to none and his desire to improve himself and the people around him is evident from the turn around the Fleming Basketball program has made since his arrival,” said head coach Bill Crowdis about his star player. “He has set a standard for his teammates to strive for and has lead by example of what a true “student”-athlete is. He maintains excellent grades and has developed into a true leader both on and off of the court.”

David Korenic of the St. Clair Saints was also named as a 2010 All-Canadian after leading the OCAA league in scoring, averaging 26 points per game. The fifth year veteran finishes his collegiate career with 2034 Career Points at St. Clair College which stands 2nd in all-time Saints history. He finished with 1366 OCAA Regular season points which stands sixth all-time.

Wayne Dawkins of the Seneca Sting was named as the OCAA’s Coach of the Year after leading his team to a 17-3 record and second place finish in the East Division. Dawkins has also produced two award winners this season in First Team All-star Vadim Halimov and All-Rookie team member Felix Adjei. Dawkins has been named as a finalist as the CCAA Coaching Award of Excellence to be announced in Calgary at the National Championship All-Canadian Banquet.

HALI BURNS NAMED OCAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Fifth year guard Hali Burns has capitalized on a stellar final season and has been named the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Year at the Championship banquet in Barrie.

Burns led her team to an undefeated season in the OCAA going an impressive 14-0 in regular season action. The Sarnia native averaged 12 points per game and was named a First Team All-star. She is known as a tireless worker who is always working on finding ways to improve her game. This is Hali’s second OCAA Player of the Year nod and the second time she has been named a Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian. Hali is also a finalist as the CCAA National Player of the Year award.

Shannon Matheson of the George Brown Huskies has also been named a CCAA All-Canadian for the first time, as well as a First Team all-star. Matheson finished second on her team in scoring, averaging 16.7 points per game and was known for her quick hands, amassing 76 steals in 15 games. The Bedford native concludes her collegiate career with the Huskies after previously playing at St. Francis Xavier in the CIS.

On the coaching front, Matt White of the Fanshawe Falcons earned the top honours guiding his team to a 9-5 record in the West Division. White moulded two All-stars this season in Alison Griffiths and Larrisa McBean. Griffiths was also named as the West Region Defensive Player of the Year.

White, Burns and Matheson will be honoured at the CCAA All-Canadian Banquet at UBC-Okanagan in Kelowna, British Columbia.